{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-908.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-908.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-908.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-908.html"}],"law_id":78494,"edition_id":1,"section_id":78494,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-908","catch_line":"Authority of localities to remove or repair the defacement of buildings, walls, fences and other structures","history":"1995, cc. 332, 667, \u00a7 15.1-11.2:2; 1997, cc. 587, 874; 2008, c. 582; 2009, cc. 319, 462, 475; 2017, cc. 118, 610.","full_text":"A\n\nAny locality may by ordinance undertake or contract for the removal or repair of the defacement of any public building, wall, fence or other structure or any private building, wall, fence or other structure where such defacement is visible from any public right-of-way. The ordinance may provide that whenever the property owner, after reasonable notice, fails to remove or repair the defacement, the locality may have such defacement removed or repaired by its agents or employees. Such agents or employees shall have any and all immunity normally provided to an employee of the locality. For purposes of this section, the term “defacement” means the unauthorized application by any means of any writing, painting, drawing, etching, scratching, or marking of an inscription, word, mark, figure, or design of any type.\n\t\t\tIf the defacement occurs on a public or private building, wall, fence, or other structure located on an unoccupied property, and the locality, through its own agents or employees, removes or repairs the defacement after complying with the notice provisions of this section, the actual cost or expenses thereof shall be chargeable to and paid by the owners of such property and may be collected by the locality as taxes are collected. No lien shall be chargeable to the owners of such property unless the locality shall have given a minimum of 15 days notice to the property owner prior to the removal of the defacement.\n\t\t\tEvery charge authorized by this section with which the owner of any such property shall have been assessed and that remains unpaid shall constitute a lien against such property, ranking on a parity with liens for unpaid local real estate taxes and enforceable in the same manner as provided in Articles 3 (§ 58.1-3940 et seq.) and 4 (§ 58.1-3965 et seq.) of Chapter 39 of Title 58.1. A locality may waive and release such liens in order to facilitate the sale of the property. Such liens may be waived only as to a purchaser who is unrelated by blood or marriage to the owner and who has no business association with the owner. All such liens shall remain a personal obligation of the owner of the property at the time the liens were imposed.B\n\nThe court may order any person convicted of unlawfully defacing property described in subsection A to pay full or partial restitution to the locality for costs incurred by the locality in removing or repairing the defacement if the locality has adopted an ordinance pursuant to this section.C\n\nAn order of restitution pursuant to this section shall be docketed as provided in § 8.01-446 when so ordered by the court or upon written request of the locality and may be enforced by the locality in the same manner as a judgment in a civil action.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":281331,"text":"Any locality may by ordinance undertake or contract for the removal or repair of the defacement of any public building, wall, fence or other structure or any private building, wall, fence or other structure where such defacement is visible from any public right-of-way. The ordinance may provide that whenever the property owner, after reasonable notice, fails to remove or repair the defacement, the locality may have such defacement removed or repaired by its agents or employees. Such agents or employees shall have any and all immunity normally provided to an employee of the locality. For purposes of this section, the term “defacement” means the unauthorized application by any means of any writing, painting, drawing, etching, scratching, or marking of an inscription, word, mark, figure, or design of any type.\n\t\t\tIf the defacement occurs on a public or private building, wall, fence, or other structure located on an unoccupied property, and the locality, through its own agents or employees, removes or repairs the defacement after complying with the notice provisions of this section, the actual cost or expenses thereof shall be chargeable to and paid by the owners of such property and may be collected by the locality as taxes are collected. No lien shall be chargeable to the owners of such property unless the locality shall have given a minimum of 15 days notice to the property owner prior to the removal of the defacement.\n\t\t\tEvery charge authorized by this section with which the owner of any such property shall have been assessed and that remains unpaid shall constitute a lien against such property, ranking on a parity with liens for unpaid local real estate taxes and enforceable in the same manner as provided in Articles 3 (§ 58.1-3940 et seq.) and 4 (§ 58.1-3965 et seq.) of Chapter 39 of Title 58.1. A locality may waive and release such liens in order to facilitate the sale of the property. Such liens may be waived only as to a purchaser who is unrelated by blood or marriage to the owner and who has no business association with the owner. All such liens shall remain a personal obligation of the owner of the property at the time the liens were imposed.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":281332,"text":"The court may order any person convicted of unlawfully defacing property described in subsection A to pay full or partial restitution to the locality for costs incurred by the locality in removing or repairing the defacement if the locality has adopted an ordinance pursuant to this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":281333,"text":"An order of restitution pursuant to this section shall be docketed as provided in § 8.01-446 when so ordered by the court or upon written request of the locality and may be enforced by the locality in the same manner as a judgment in a civil action.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13288,"edition_id":1,"name":"Public Health and Safety; Nuisances","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13058,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:34","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:34","permalink":{"id":156359,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13288,"identifier":"1","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1","url":"\/15.2\/II\/9\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13058,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Powers of Local Governments","identifier":"9","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12733,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:11","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:11","permalink":{"id":156357,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13058,"identifier":"9","token":"15.2\/II\/9","url":"\/15.2\/II\/9\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12733,"edition_id":1,"name":"Powers of Local Government","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":152369,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12733,"identifier":"II","token":"15.2\/II","url":"\/15.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12720,"edition_id":1,"name":"Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"15.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":151279,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12720,"identifier":"15.2","token":"15.2","url":"\/15.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":81812,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-900","catch_line":"Abatement or removal of nuisances by localities; recovery of costs","url":"\/15.2-900\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-900","metadata":false},{"id":69383,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-901","catch_line":"Locality may provide for removal or disposal of trash and clutter, cutting of grass, weeds, and running bamboo; penalty in certain counties; penalty","url":"\/15.2-901\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-901","metadata":false},{"id":84118,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-901.1","catch_line":"Locality may provide for control of running bamboo; civil penalty","url":"\/15.2-901.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-901.1","metadata":false},{"id":83896,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-902","catch_line":"Authority of locality to control certain noxious weeds","url":"\/15.2-902\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-902","metadata":false},{"id":72183,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-903","catch_line":"Ordinances taxing and regulating \"automobile graveyards,\" \"junkyards,\" and certain vacant and abandoned property","url":"\/15.2-903\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-903","metadata":false},{"id":64391,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-904","catch_line":"Authority to restrict keeping of inoperable motor vehicles, etc., on residential or commercial property; 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This law was first created in 1995. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 332<\/a> and 667<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1997, chapters 587<\/a> and 874<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 582<\/a>; in 2009, chapters 319<\/a>, 462<\/a>, and 475<\/a>; in 2017, chapters 118<\/a> and 610<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":62143,"section_number":"15.2-1132","catch_line":"Volunteer property maintenance and zoning inspectors in certain cities","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1132\/"},{"id":66959,"section_number":"53.1-129","catch_line":"Order permitting prisoners to work on state, county, city, town, certain private property or nonprofit organization property; bond of person in charge of prisoners","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-129\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":72311,"section_number":"58.1-3940","catch_line":"Limitation on collection of local taxes","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-3940\/"},{"id":70850,"section_number":"58.1-3965","catch_line":"When land may be sold for delinquent taxes; notice of sale; owner's right of redemption","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-3965\/"},{"id":67694,"section_number":"8.01-446","catch_line":"Clerks to keep judgment dockets; what judgments to be docketed therein","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-446\/"}],"permalink":{"id":156409,"object_type":"law","relational_id":78494,"identifier":"15.2-908","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-908","url":"\/15.2-908\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-908\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-908","dublin_core":{"Title":"Authority of localities to remove or repair the defacement of buildings, walls, fences and other structures","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-908","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any locality<\/span> may by ordinance<\/span> undertake or contract<\/span> for the removal or repair of the defacement<\/span> of any public building, wall, fence or other structure or any private building, wall, fence or other structure where such defacement<\/span> is visible from any public right-of-way. The ordinance<\/span> may provide that whenever the property owner, after reasonable notice, fails to remove or repair the defacement<\/span>, the locality<\/span> may have such defacement<\/span> removed or repaired by its agents or employees. Such agents or employees shall have any and all immunity normally provided to an employee of the locality<\/span>. For purposes of this section, the term “defacement<\/span>” means the unauthorized application by any means of any writing, painting, drawing, etching, scratching, or marking of an inscription, word, mark, figure, or design of any type.\n\t\t\tIf the defacement<\/span> occurs on a public or private building, wall, fence, or other structure located on an unoccupied property, and the locality<\/span>, through its own agents or employees, removes or repairs the defacement<\/span> after complying with the notice provisions of this section, the actual cost or expenses thereof shall be chargeable to and paid by the owners of such property and may be collected by the locality<\/span> as taxes are collected. No lien<\/span> shall be chargeable to the owners of such property unless the locality<\/span> shall have given a minimum of 15 days notice to the property owner prior to the removal of the defacement<\/span>.\n\t\t\tEvery charge authorized by this section with which the owner of any such property shall have been assessed and that remains unpaid shall constitute a lien<\/span> against such property, ranking on a parity with liens<\/span> for unpaid local real estate taxes and enforceable in the same manner as provided in Articles 3 (§ 58.1-3940<\/a> et seq.) and 4 (§ 58.1-3965<\/a> et seq.) of Chapter 39 of Title 58.1. A locality<\/span> may waive<\/span> and release such liens<\/span> in order<\/span> to facilitate the sale of the property. Such liens<\/span> may be waived only as to a purchaser who is unrelated by blood or marriage to the owner and who has no business association with the owner. All such liens<\/span> shall remain a personal obligation of the owner of the property at the time the liens<\/span> were imposed. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The court<\/span> may order<\/span> any person convicted of unlawfully defacing property described in subsection A to pay full or partial restitution<\/span> to the locality<\/span> for costs incurred by the locality<\/span> in removing or repairing the defacement<\/span> if the locality<\/span> has adopted an ordinance<\/span> pursuant to this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> An order<\/span> of restitution<\/span> pursuant to this section shall be docketed as provided in § 8.01-446<\/a> when so ordered by the court<\/span> or upon written request of the locality<\/span> and may be enforced by the locality<\/span> in the same manner as a judgment<\/span> in a civil action<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nAUTHORITY OF LOCALITIES TO REMOVE OR REPAIR THE DEFACEMENT OF BUILDINGS, WALLS,\nFENCES AND OTHER STRUCTURES (\u00a7 15.2-908)\n\nA. Any locality may by ordinance undertake or contract for the removal or repair\nof the defacement of any public building, wall, fence or other structure or any\nprivate building, wall, fence or other structure where such defacement is\nvisible from any public right-of-way. The ordinance may provide that whenever\nthe property owner, after reasonable notice, fails to remove or repair the\ndefacement, the locality may have such defacement removed or repaired by its\nagents or employees. Such agents or employees shall have any and all immunity\nnormally provided to an employee of the locality. For purposes of this section,\nthe term “defacement” means the unauthorized application by any\nmeans of any writing, painting, drawing, etching, scratching, or marking of an\ninscription, word, mark, figure, or design of any type.\n\t\t\tIf the defacement occurs on a public or private building, wall, fence, or\nother structure located on an unoccupied property, and the locality, through its\nown agents or employees, removes or repairs the defacement after complying with\nthe notice provisions of this section, the actual cost or expenses thereof shall\nbe chargeable to and paid by the owners of such property and may be collected by\nthe locality as taxes are collected. No lien shall be chargeable to the owners\nof such property unless the locality shall have given a minimum of 15 days\nnotice to the property owner prior to the removal of the defacement.\n\t\t\tEvery charge authorized by this section with which the owner of any such\nproperty shall have been assessed and that remains unpaid shall constitute a\nlien against such property, ranking on a parity with liens for unpaid local real\nestate taxes and enforceable in the same manner as provided in Articles 3\n(§ 58.1-3940 et seq.) and 4 (§ 58.1-3965 et seq.) of Chapter 39 of\nTitle 58.1. A locality may waive and release such liens in order to facilitate\nthe sale of the property. Such liens may be waived only as to a purchaser who is\nunrelated by blood or marriage to the owner and who has no business association\nwith the owner. All such liens shall remain a personal obligation of the owner\nof the property at the time the liens were imposed.\n\nB. The court may order any person convicted of unlawfully defacing property\ndescribed in subsection A to pay full or partial restitution to the locality for\ncosts incurred by the locality in removing or repairing the defacement if the\nlocality has adopted an ordinance pursuant to this section.\n\nC. An order of restitution pursuant to this section shall be docketed as\nprovided in § 8.01-446 when so ordered by the court or upon written request\nof the locality and may be enforced by the locality in the same manner as a\njudgment in a civil action.\n\nHISTORY: 1995, cc. 332, 667, \u00a7 15.1-11.2:2; 1997, cc. 587, 874; 2008, c. 582;\n2009, cc. 319, 462, 475; 2017, cc. 118, 610.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}